Google adds 'research pane' to Google Docs

Google has added a “research pane” feature in its Google Docs, which helps users in searching any specific information on the search engine without leaving the Docs. Users can access the research pane from the Tools menu by right clicking on a selected word that users want to learn more about or use CTRL AlT R (for Windows) shortcut.

Google Docs users also have the option to include being able to search all of Google, or restrict searches to images and quotes. The research pane is placed at the right of your document.

“From the research pane, you can search for whatever info you need to help you write your document. With just a couple clicks you can look up maps, quotes, images, and much more,” said Google software engineer Sarveshwar Dudd in a blog post. “If you find something you like, you can add it by clicking the insert button or, for images, by dragging them directly into your document. If appropriate we'll automatically add a footnote citation so there's a record of where you found the info.”

The new “research pane” feature is the latest in a series of updates Google has been working on its products of late. Google recently gave a facelift to Google Docs, by adding 450 new fonts, 60 new templates and a host of other features. The Internet giant also upped the Docs' storage to 5GB.